Display device

Abstract

To provide a display device in which an opening is inconspicuous even when exposed to external light and which has a pattern on a front surface of a display.SOLUTION: A display device comprises: a display panel 20 which displays an image on a display surface 20a; a decorative part 12 which is arranged on the front side facing the display panel 20; and a light shielding part 15 which has a transmission portion 15a which is arranged so as to be opposed to the display surface 20a and is arranged between the decorative part 12 and the display panel 20. High reflection parts 14, 16a are provided between the decorative part 12 and the light shielding part 15 including the transmission portion 15a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device having a display panel for displaying images. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a conventional display device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This display device is used in surface components of automobiles, furniture, housing materials, etc., and has a semi-transparent design layer with a wood-grain, marble-like pattern, or geometric pattern formed on the front of the display, and a light-shielding layer on the display side of the design layer, with a large number of micropores that allow display light to pass through formed in the design layer and the light-shielding layer at the portion facing the display. With this display device, the screen can be seen through the micropores in the design when the display is turned on, and the screen can be hidden by the design when the display is turned off, so that the entire instrument panel, including the display, has a unified design.

[0003] Furthermore, since it is costly to form a large number of micropores, micropores are not formed in the design layer or the light-shielding layer, and openings are formed only in the light-shielding layer at the point facing the display. This allows the screen to be seen through the openings and the semi-transparent design layer when the display is turned on, and the screen to be hidden by the design layer when the display is not turned on. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent re-publication WO2020 / 196904 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, this method has the problem that when strong external light hits the instrument panel, the opening has a low reflectance and the light-shielding layer around it has a high reflectance, making the opening stand out.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a pattern on the front surface of the display, in which the opening is not noticeable even when exposed to external light. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the display device of the present invention comprises a display panel 20 that displays an image on a display surface 20a, a decorative portion 12 that is arranged in front of and facing the display panel 20, and a light-shielding portion 15 that has a transmission portion 15a that is arranged opposite to the display surface 20a and is arranged between the decorative portion 12 and the display panel 20, and The reflectance of external light is formed higher than that of the light-shielding portion 15. It is characterized by having highly reflective portions 14 and 16a. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a view of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure as seen from a driver's perspective. [Figure 2] Cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure taken along line AA in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The display device is configured as a display device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile to display various information. The present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and can be applied to a display device for a vehicle mounted on a moving body such as a motorcycle, agricultural machine, or construction machine, for example.

[0010] In the following, to facilitate understanding of the configuration of the display device, the direction in which the driver seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle is viewed from the display device (the decorative panel C2 side in FIG. 2) will be referred to as the "front (F in the figure)" and the opposite side (the circuit board 40 side) will be referred to as the "rear (Re in the figure)." Furthermore, the up-down direction (T, B in the figure) corresponds to the top-to-bottom direction of the automobile C. Furthermore, the left-to-right direction (L, R in the figure) corresponds to the right-to-left turning direction of the automobile C.

[0011] (First embodiment) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the display device consists of a decorative panel (transparent plate) C2 arranged in front of an instrument panel (instrument panel) C1 of an automobile C, and a display D arranged in an instrument panel hole portion C1a, which is a hole formed in the instrument panel C1.

[0012] The instrument panel C1 is, for example, also called a dashboard, and is a part of an automobile C or the like that is located in front of the driver's seat and passenger seat and is made of a light-shielding synthetic resin or the like.

[0013] The display device D is composed of, from the front, a display panel 20, an illumination member 30 arranged behind the display panel 20, a circuit board 40 arranged behind the illumination member 30, an intermediate case member 50 that houses a light source 41 arranged on the circuit board 40, and a case member 80 that houses the display panel 20, the illumination member 30, and the circuit board 40.

[0014] The display panel 20 displays an image on a display surface 20a, which is the forefront. The display panel 20 is a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal display panel (LCD) in which pixels composed of multiple RGB colors are arranged in a matrix, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The display panel 20 has a pair of front and rear glass substrates into which a liquid crystal material is sealed, and a transparent electrode made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or the like is formed on the liquid crystal layer side between the glass substrates. The display panel 20 has a pair of polarizing plates arranged on the front and rear surfaces to sandwich the glass substrates.

[0015] The polarizing plate is a well-known polarizing filter member made of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) with polarization properties protected by TAC (triacetyl cellulose) or the like. That is, the polarizing plate has a very fine slit-like structure, and transmits light waves in a direction parallel to the slits (polarization axis or transmission axis), and absorbs light waves in a direction perpendicular to this (absorption axis). The polarizing plates are arranged so that their polarization axes (indicated by double-headed arrows in all figures) are approximately perpendicular to each other, and the display panel 20 is a normally black type (black display when no voltage is applied) liquid crystal display panel.

[0016] A flexible printed circuit (FPC) (not shown), which is a flexible wiring board, is connected to one side of the display panel 20. This FPC is connected to a connector mounted on the back of the circuit board 40, and electrically connects (conducts) the display panel 20 to the circuit board 40. The display panel 20 displays an image by controlling the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer of the display panel 20 based on an electrical signal from the circuit board 40, and changing the transmittance of each pixel of the display panel 20.

[0017] The illumination member 30 is disposed behind the display panel 20 and is composed of a well-known light guide, a light source, a reflective sheet, an optical sheet, and a housing made of a metal such as aluminum that houses these components (not shown). The illumination member 30 illuminates the display panel 20 from behind.

[0018] The circuit board 40 is made of a rigid wiring board in which a wiring pattern is applied to a flat glass epoxy base material such as FR-4 (Flame Retardant-4). The circuit board 40 is disposed behind the lighting member 30. The circuit board 40 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape.

[0019] The circuit board 40 mounts various circuit components (not shown), such as resistors and capacitors, as well as a control means for outputting command signals (drive signals) for driving and controlling the display panel 20 and the light sources. The control means includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), a power supply circuit for controlling the power supply of the display device, and performs predetermined arithmetic processing according to a program written in the ROM, for example. The control means acquires various information from the vehicle's ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and displays information on the display panel 20 based on the acquired information.

[0020] The light source 41 is made up of a vertically emitting LED (chip-type light emitting diode) that emits light, and is disposed adjacent to the display panel 20 on the circuit board 40. The light source 41 emits light based on an electrical signal from the circuit board 40.

[0021] The middle case member 50 is made of a non-transparent (opaque) synthetic resin (such as polypropylene) that is white or the like, and is disposed between the decorative panel C2 and the circuit board 40. The middle case member 50 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and houses the light source 41 inside. The middle case member 50 illuminates the back of the decorative panel C2 without leaking light emitted by the light source 41 to anywhere else.

[0022] The case member 80 is made of an opaque (non-transparent) synthetic resin (e.g., polypropylene) such as black, and is formed in a roughly box shape with an opening at the front, and houses the display panel 20, lighting member 30, circuit board 40, and inner case member 50 inside.

[0023] The display D is fixed to the decorative panel C2 with a light-transmitting adhesive 60 and double-sided adhesive tape (not shown). The light-transmitting adhesive 60 is made of a light-transmitting UV (ultraviolet) curable gel-type optical adhesive (for example, a liquid silicone adhesive) and is closely placed between the decorative panel C2 and the display panel 20. The double-sided tape is made of a plate-thick double-sided adhesive tape (approximately 1 mm thick) and is closely placed between the decorative panel C2 and the middle case member 50 and case member 80.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the decorative panel C2 is composed of, from the front, a protective layer 11, a decorative layer (decorative portion) 12, a first base material 13, a reflective layer (highly reflective portion) 14, and a first shading layer (shading portion) 15.

[0025] The protective layer 11 is formed on the front surface side of the first substrate 13 by printing ink containing highly hard, minute beads that are a translucent matte material.

[0026] The decorative layer 12 is disposed between the protective layer 11 and the first base material 13, on the front side facing the display panel 20, and is formed by printing multiple layers of translucent colored ink. As shown in Fig. 1, the decorative layer 12 is formed by applying a solid coat of, for example, brown ink to the front of the first base material 13, and then applying a striped pattern of, for example, earth-colored ink to the front of that, thereby forming a wood-grain color and pattern. The decorative layer 12 transmits light irradiated from the display D behind it.

[0027] The first base material 13 is made of a synthetic resin material such as a transparent or semi-transparent light-transmitting polycarbonate resin, and has a thickness of 2 mm to 3 mm.

[0028] The reflective layer 14 is a so-called half mirror formed by adhering a thin light-transmitting metal film to the back side of the first base material 13. The reflective layer 14 may be formed of a semi-transmitting printed layer printed with ink containing a metal filler. The reflective layer 14 is formed to have a higher reflectance of external light than the first light-shielding layer 15.

[0029] The first light-shielding layer 15 is formed by printing a light-shielding black ink on the back side of the reflective layer 14. The first light-shielding layer 15 blocks light irradiated from behind. The first light-shielding layer 15 has non-printed portions where no ink is printed, such as a first opening (transmitting portion) 15a and a second opening 15b. The first opening 15a is disposed opposite the display surface 20a of the display D and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The second opening 15b is disposed opposite the light source 41 and is formed in the design shape of various indicators (operating lights and warning lights).

[0030] By forming the first opening 15a in this manner, when the display D is lit, the image on the display surface 20a can be seen through the first opening 15a. When the display D is not lit, if strong external light hits the instrument panel C1, the external light is reflected by the reflective layer 14, so that the reflectance of the area where the first opening 15a is formed is approximately equal to the reflectance of the surrounding area where the first light-shielding layer 15 is formed, making the first opening 15a less noticeable (ensuring concealment).

[0031] Furthermore, when the light source 41 is turned on, the design of the second opening 15b can be seen, and when the light source 41 is turned off and strong external light hits the instrument panel C1, most of the external light is reflected by the reflective layer 14, so that the reflectance of the area where the second opening 15b is formed is approximately equal to the reflectance of the area around it where the first light-shielding layer 15 is formed, making the second opening 15b less noticeable.

[0032] (Second embodiment) A second embodiment of a display device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The same parts and equivalent portions as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0033] In this embodiment, the reflective layer 14 and the first light-shielding layer 15 are not formed on the back side of the first base material 13. Also, in this embodiment, the decorative panel C2 has a back panel C2a. The back panel C2a has, from the front, a second base material 16 and a second light-shielding layer (light-shielding portion) 17.

[0034] The second base material 16 is made of a synthetic resin material such as a transparent or translucent light-transmitting polycarbonate resin with a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1 mm. The front surface (highly reflective portion) 16a of the second base material 16 is formed so that the reflectance of external light on the front surface is slightly higher than that of the first light-shielding layer 15.

[0035] The second light-shielding layer 17 is formed by printing a light-shielding black ink on the rear surface of the second substrate 16. The second light-shielding layer 17 blocks light irradiated from behind. The second light-shielding layer 17 has non-printed portions where no ink is printed, such as a third opening 17a and a fourth opening 17b. The third opening 17a is formed in the same manner as the first opening 15a in the first embodiment. The fourth opening 17b is formed in the same manner as the second opening 15b in the first embodiment.

[0036] The rear panel C2a is fixed to the rear surface of the decorative panel C2 with double-sided tape 18. The double-sided tape 18 is made of a transparent double-sided adhesive tape with a plate thickness (approximately 1 mm) and is placed in close contact with the outer edges of the decorative panel C2 and the rear panel C2a.

[0037] Between the decorative panel C2 and the rear panel C2a, a gap 19 is formed at a position corresponding to the third opening 17a and the fourth opening 17b, which is a space having a thickness equal to the thickness of the first light-shielding layer 15 and the double-sided tape 18 combined together.

[0038] The display D is fixed to the decorative panel C2 with a light-transmitting adhesive 60 and double-sided adhesive tape (not shown). The light-transmitting adhesive 60 is placed in close contact between the rear panel C2a and the display panel 20. The double-sided tape is placed in close contact between the rear panel C2a and the middle case member 50 and the case member 80.

[0039] By forming it in this manner, when the display D is lit (when the display panel 20 is illuminated), the image on the display surface 20a can be seen through the third opening 17a and the fourth opening 17b. When the display D is not lit (when the display panel 20 is not illuminated), if strong external light hits the instrument panel C1, the light is reflected by the front surface 16a in the areas where the third opening 17a and the fourth opening 17b are formed, and is reflected by the first light-shielding layer 15 in the areas around the third opening 17a and the fourth opening 17b. The difference in reflectivity between the two is small, making the third opening 17a and the fourth opening 17b less noticeable.

[0040] (Variation) The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure.

[0041] The decorative layer 12 has been disposed between the protective layer 11 and the first base material 13, but may be disposed, for example, behind the base material 13, between the base material 13 and the reflective layer 14. The striped pattern of the decorative layer 12 has been formed in a wood-grain color or pattern, but may be formed in a metal, fabric, carbon, marble, or other similar color or pattern. The display panel 20, the lighting member 30, and the like may be EL (Electro Luminescence) modules. The display panel 20 and the lighting member 30 may be integrally formed.

[0042] A layer similar to the protective layer 11 of the first embodiment may be formed as a reflectance adjusting layer on the front surface 16a of the second base material 16 so that the reflectance of external light is approximately the same as that of the first light-shielding layer 15.

[0043] The second substrate 16 may be formed of a half mirror. The second light-shielding layer 17 may be formed on the front surface of the second substrate 16. The protective layer 11 does not have to be disposed on the front surface of the first substrate 13. The protective layer 11 may also be formed on the front surface of the second substrate 16.

[0044] Although there is one display D and one light source 41, they may be formed in multiple locations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] C car C1 Instrument Panel C1a Instrument panel hole C2 decorative panel C2a Rear Panel D Display 11 Protective layer 12 Decorative layer (decorative part) 13 First substrate 14 Reflective layer (high reflective part) 15 First light-shielding layer (light-shielding portion) 15a First opening (transmission portion) 15b Second opening 16 Second substrate 16a Front surface (highly reflective part) 17 Second light-shielding layer (light-shielding part) 17a Third opening 17b Fourth Opening 18 double-sided tape 19 Gap 20 Display panel 20a Display surface 30 Lighting components 40 Circuit Board 41 Light source 50 Middle case material 60 Translucent adhesive 80 Case material

Claims

1. a display panel that displays an image on a display surface; a decorative portion disposed in front of the display panel; a light-shielding portion that has a transmission portion that is arranged opposite to the display surface and is arranged between the decorative portion and the display panel, A display device comprising: a high-reflection portion formed between the decorative portion and the light-shielding portion including the transmissive portion, the high-reflection portion having a reflectance to external light higher than that of the light-shielding portion.

2. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein a space is provided between the decorative portion and the highly reflective portion.

3. the transmitting portion is formed on a light-transmitting base material, the light-shielding portion is formed behind the base material, 3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the highly reflective portion is a front surface of the base material.

4. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the highly reflective portion is a half mirror.

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